The Federal Government on Monday announced that the country will resume international flight operations on August 29.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and also through his Twitter handle.
He said the procedure and process of the resumption would be similar to those for domestic flights resumption.
“We are very glad today to announce that international flights will resume from August 29, 2020.
“However, what we have become used to – physical distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands, temperature taking, etc will continue.”
According to the minister, the resumption will commence on Saturday next week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Sirika disclosed that for now, only four flights per day will be permitted into each of the airports.
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He thanked Nigerians for their patience while the ban on international flights was enforced, saying that the protocols and procedures for resumption would be announced soon.
“Just like we did with the domestic (flights resumption), it will start with Lagos and Abuja. The protocols, procedures, and processes, will be announced in due course.
So, all protocols exist, and they will continue alongside the opening of these airports.
“In the beginning, there will be four flights into Lagos and four flights into Abuja daily, we will give further details on that in due course.
“It is the Task Force decision, not that of aviation (ministry) … under the leadership of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who is the chairman of PTF.”
The minister also said passengers must take a COVID-19 test from wherever they were coming from stressing that this must be very close to their departure dates.
He said further: “A portal will also be opened for passengers to pay for another COVID-19 test to be done eight days after arrival in Nigeria.
“They will also fill in health questionnaires online and hand them in at the point of entry, instead of filling the forms on the aircraft or on arrival.”
